Sex trafficking and sexual exploitation represent a significant concern in the state of Florida. Its privileged geographic location, proximity to major seaports and the I-4 and I-95 highway corridors, coupled with the strong tourist appeal of cities like Miami and Orlando, known for their theme parks, beaches, convention centers and golf courses, contribute to making Florida a highly attractive location for exploiters and traffickers. This puts the state in third place in the ranking of states with the highest number of reported cases of human trafficking. Both urban and rural areas are affected, with victims being recruited in small towns and taken to large urban centers, while gang-related prostitution is prevalent in central urban areas.

Sexual violence is recognized as one of the most underreported crimes in America, making statistics on sexual exploitation and trafficking difficult to obtain due to low rates of reporting, detection and the silence motivated by fear and shame. It is important to note that child victims have been identified in all 50 US states. The US Department of Justice indicates that the average age of entry into prostitution is between 12 and 14, with underage girls representing the majority of victims in commercial sex markets, including pornography, stripping, escort services and prostitution.

Several factors increase children’s vulnerability to commercial sexual exploitation, such as childhood sexual abuse, homelessness, inadequate parental or family supervision and exposure to domestic violence. The advent of the internet and the increased use of technology have contributed to more children being exploited in the sex trade. Pimps use the internet, text messages and digital cameras to organize meetings, making it more challenging to locate and rescue victims.